News

Thornbury author to publish her first book on the lives of local people during the First World War

SR_342_001 Author Jacqueline Wadsworth with the front cover of her new book and Thornbury running club members John Watt, Ros Rowland and Becky Rowland. The club runners inspired her to write the book (8917330)

SR_343_001 Author Jacqueline Wadsworth with the front cover of her new book and Thornbury running club members John Watt, Ros Rowland and Becky Rowland. The club runners inspired her to write the book (8917320)

A THORNBURY author will soon publish a new book looking at everyday life during the First World War.

Titled ‘Bristol in the Great War’, the book explores the lives of people during the war not only from Bristol but from the surrounding areas including Thornbury, Olveston, Yate and Chipping Sodbury, and will be released on Monday, August 11 to coincide with the centenary of the First World War.

A second book, ‘Letters from the Trenches’, will be released in November.

Jacqueline Wadsworth, a former journalist, was inspired by Thornbury Running Club to take up writing again.

She said: “I have belonged to the club for years and when I was captain, from 2009 to 2011, I did a lot of writing for the club website and magazine.

“It was something I enjoyed very much - so much so that it prompted me to re-start my career as a writer.

“I set up as a freelance at my home in Thornbury and began contributing articles to magazines about history and sport - two great interests of mine.

“Two years ago, I was contacted out of the blue by a book publisher asking if I would like to write for them.

"None of this would have happened had my interest in writing not been re-kindled by Thornbury Running Club. The only downside is that I've been so busy researching and writing my books that running has had to take a back seat!"

Jacqueline also has a blog called ‘Letters from the Trenches’ where she shows what it was like to live during the war by publishing soldier’s letters and diaries.

Bristol in the Great War will be available from most good bookshops, including Thornbury Bookshop and also online.